The Portland daily press., 1887-03-12
Free school Books.

To the Editor Of the Press:
1t was with regret that read Of the indef-
mite postponement of the bill before the
Legislature making it obligatory for towns
and cities to furnish free school books for
the use of all pupils in the public schools.
There are many reasonss why such law
should have been passed, and some of them
are as follows:
1-Such law would have been in keeping
with the progress and demands of public ed
ucation. A similar law already prevails in
the State Of Massachusetts, and has proven
70 be most satisfactory solution Of the text
book question. The practice Of furnishing
Tree text books for use Of all children in the
pubic schools has been in vogue in the large
cities, like New York, Philadelphia and
Brooklyn, for many years and is looked up
on with great favor, In nearly fifty towns
In our own State the free text book system,
as local educational enterprise, has been
adopted and has afforded admirable results,
as will be noted farther along. In Portland
the same system has prevailed to a limited
degree Tor several years. as shown In the
fact that 1t has been the custom for the city
government to appropriate sufficient sum
to furnish readers and singing books for use
Of all scholars. Thus the tendency of pub
lie sentiment Is towards free text books, and
sooner or later the system will be universal.
2.-Such law would have been perfectly
consistent with the present well established
plan of free public education. III 1t is right
and consistent for the State to tax the people
to furnish school buildings and furniture and
the best of teachers, why not also the best
necessary books? In the words Of an efic-
lent superintendent Of public schools. ''un-
der these circumstances the duty of the
State Is plain. Having made school books a
necessity, 1t cannot neglect to make them
free. IL 1t was justified In taking the first
step, the second follows as a logical se-
quence." In other words, buildings, teach
ers and books are essential parts Of one
great benehcent whole, the end Of which Is
to elevate the masses into useful citizenship.
Indeed, might go so far as TO say that If It
IS consistent for the city government of
Portland to appropriate hundreds Of dollars
Of the public money to furnish the boys and
girls in our public schools with song book,
how much more consistent would it be to
furnish them also with speller, arithmetic
grammar and geography. Ii has been aptly
said that the people must be educated, and
hence all methods calculated to aid and en-
fore the inexorable must, are consistent,
right, humane and American.
3-Such law would be popular. 10 would
be especially acceptable to that large class Of
people who are so destitute that they
are obliged to keep their children
buy them books. There are such families In
Portland. 1t would have received the appro-
baton of that very large class of laboring
men who work for small pay and have large
families to support. And besides these two
classes, 1t is safe to say that the great me-
dium class which pays the bulk Of the taxes
would be well pleased with such a law, for
that has been the universal experience in the
States, towns and cities to which | have re-
ferred. 1t has even been demonstrated over
and over again that .tha most earnest OPP
posers" soon became the most willing sup
porters'' Of the free text book system. In
not a single instance has such system ever
been abandoned after having been once
adopted. The people, all classes,
like 1t too well to ever return to the old an
noying and expensive plan of buying their
own books.
4-Such law would have favored econ
omy. II was claimed that 1t would cost
Portland "a snug sum the first year" Not
so much, however, as many would suppose.
1t should be borne in mind that large pro-
portion Of the books now in use could have
been utilized by younger children. and It
would have been necessary only to furnish
new ones for new scholars and for some who
advanced to higher grades. 1t Is estimated
that the addition OF about one-twelfth Of
one mill TO the rate OF taxation would have
proven sufficient to have furnished every
scholar In the city Of Portland with all the
books and stationery needed for use during
the school year. TO illustrate how cheaply
text books can be furnished for the use Of
scholars, 1t Is proper to say that in the town
OF Orono in this State, where as local
option" the free school book system has beeu
tried. the committee reported as follows:
"The cost to the town for each scholar was
only 264 cents per year." and the remark
was suggestively added, I'VE are not aware
Of any other method by which the needed
annual supply can be procured at so little
cost. In large cities having high schools
the expense is greater, as for instance in
Haverhill, Mass, where during the year 1886
1t cost the city at the rate OF 92 cents per
scholar, based on the whole enroll
ment, to furnish all the school books
and stationery needed. In Quincy. Mass,
the expense for books and stationery was
about " cents per scholar, and the superin-
tendent reports, thus far the text book plan
with us has been entirely successful" In
Bath, Maine, after long trial of the free text
book system, the school committee reported
matter in the minds of the people of this city
that the school books shall be furnished for
all the children of the public shoolS at the
public expense, This has been done TO four
successive years, and nobody appears to
doubt the expediency Of it. The economy of
IL is indisputable." The secret Of the low
average expense per capita Is the fact that
books are bought at trihe above their
first cost, they are carefully distributed they
are constantly guarded by the teacher, and
they are used until they are worn out. Thus it
will be seen in "the logic of statistics and the
eloquence Of facts" that the free text book
system" Is expedient, economical and emf
nently satisfactory.
In view of the fact that the legislature
failed to pass the law making 1t obligatory
for cities to furnish free text books, /, for
one Of those who are deeply interested In the
subject, hope that the new city government
VIII generously appropriate a sufficient
amount to purchase all the books and sta
tionery needed for use in our public schools
during the coming year. IL will be no mis-
take to do so, for time shas demonstrated
that generous disposition which helps the
masses, educates and ennObles the young, Is
always sound policy. Whatever tends to
promote the liberality and efficiency of the
public schools, helps to attain the great OBJ
ject for which they were created. As all are
aware, that sublime object was TO educate all
and make intelligent and good citizens. The
immediate purpose was to afford mental and
moral fitness TO all children so as to help
make them industrious, capable, ylrtuous,
and law abiding men and women. The re-
moter mission was to imbed in the minds Of
the masses those broad foundation principles
upon which must rest public integrity, civil
liberty, and Christian civilization.
CHARLES X. CRANDALL.